Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
“First of all, I want to thank everyone for coming out,’’ he said. “Appreciate you guys very, very much. Never thought this day would come. Father time has finally caught up with Shaquille O’Neal. I just want to say . . . ’’
He cut the sentence short when someone approached to hand him a cellphone. He put it to his ear.
“Who’s this?’’
Phil Jackson? Pat Riley? Who knew, really?
“Yes?’’
It had become a conversation.
“For real.’’
The facial expressions continued.
“You want me to come up and apply for the New York Knick general manager job?’’ he said, finally letting everyone in on the joke. “OK, sure. I’ll be up right after the press conference.
“That was the president of the Knicks. He wanted me to fly up right after the press conference to apply for the general manager job.’’
Globe: O'Neal has fun right to the finish
I said it yesterday after the news conference was over… I'll say it again now… Shaq went out in style. That was one hell of a goodbye. If you missed it, here it is courtesy of CSNNE.com
Some of the honesty was really quite refreshing. It was great. Doesn't mean I don't expect him to come back, but I'm actually hoping he stays retired just so this can be his last moment related to basketball. It was that good.
Oh by the way… The Knicks are (thankfully) run by morons. They let the guy who helped rebuild the franchise and regain respectability walk.
The rest of the links:
CSNNE: Like Sinatra, Shaq did it his way | The Big AARP calls it quits | Globe: What should Shaq do now? | Ranking the top centers (Ryan) | Herald: O'Neal ready to collect Social Shaquirty | ESPN Boston: The Five: Ainge's best drafts | Podcast: Forsberg on Shaq's retirement | Shaq presser: Praise for Doc, C's | Video: Shaq on Mike & Mike | Shaq thanks Doc Rivers | Transcript of Shaq on D&C | Shaquille O'Neal's entertainingly frustrating season in Boston
Associated Press Photo
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